Thumb index



March 29, 1927- F. P. GORIN THUMB INDEX Filed June '7. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 m 2 YZ WX UV T 6 R OP MN v KL 1 1d H .]F a H, 9, v U 0 j. 3 3 1 A I m .H .9 l 1 w f 4 1 MM 1 1 w fi. 1

March 29, 1927.

F. P. GORIN THUMB INDEX 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed June '7, 1924 LIBEIK IIIIZDI'EBBEIUII'I Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,622,641 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK I. GORIN', OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO HOR- TON S. EMERSON, 0F KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON.

THUMB INDEX.

Application filed June 7,

This invention relates to improvements in book binding, and more especially to the binding together of independent thumb indexed leaves which are insertable between the leaves of a main book, such for example, as a telephone directory or the like, wherein the utmost cheapness of book construction is necessary and the addition of a thumb index is not'ordinarily possible in the original book on account of the added expense, but wherein the necessity of some form of thumb index is highly desirable by the user of such books or directories. In a cut-in form of thumb index, involving a series of thumb r recesses cut into the outer edges of the leaves of the book, toughness of the paper is not a necessary requirement because the pages directly beneath the thumb recesses obviate the necessity of lifting or handling a single sheet at a time when turning to a particular alphabetical section of the book. In a form of overlapping or stepped thumb index, toughness of the paper is necessary because in that case the projecting edges of the sheets are often handled singly and if the paper be too light or thin, the sheets are apt to tear.

My present invention contemplates the use of overlapping or stepped form of thumb index rather than the recessed form, although either form of index could be constructed and used in accordance with the general scope and spirit of the invention.

The invention is mainly directed to pror viding what may be termed a complete index, and forming the same so that it may interlock with the book proper for holding the index in place, the index being integrally formed with hook-like or similar projections adapted when the index is in place to engage beyond the bound edge of the book to holdthe index from separation from the book.

In my co-pending case, Serial No. 639,650, I have shown and described a form of portable index. but I have found difficulty in the use of that form, in that the index is not attachable to varying sizes of directories. In my present invention I show an index which is attachable to directories of great range of length and to any directory whatever the width may be. The sizes of the telephone directories in the various cities of the United States have a great variation,

both in width and length. I11 the form 1924. Serial No. 718,617.

shown in my co-pending case, the index tabs would not be visible if the directory leaves were wider than the index leaves, because the index tabs are along the line or edge of the index leaves which, when the index is in place in thedirectory, is parallel to the back and front edges of the directory. In my present invention the index tabs project from an edge of the leaves which is at right angles to the back edge of the book. Therefore, the tabs will always project regardless of the width of the directory. In my co-pending case the attached hooks are of universal length, the result of which is,

if a given size of the index be placed within a directory which is shorter than the distance between the two sets of hooks, the hooks, of course will not function. In my present invention, one set of hooks is of a length which represents the range of variation in the lengths of the directories to be dealt with.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanving drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a book provided with the improved index, the book being shown partly open.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the book with the index in place.

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view illustrating the index in applied position.

Fig. 4: is a broken plan of one of the index sheets.

In the drawings, 1 represents an ordinary hound book, such as a telephone directory for example. the leaves 2 of which are bound in the usual manner at 3 to present a rear or bound edge 4.

The index of this invention is made up of the desired, that is any. number of sheets 5, the bottom or index edges of which are appropriately cut away in the usual manner to leave index tabs or projections 6, on which is marked the usual index identification. usually the letters of the alphabet. 109 The index sheets 5 are adapted to project beyond the lower edges of the leaves of the book with which they are to be used, at least to the extent of the index tabs, and the successive sheets of the particular index have such relative tab formation as to present all. the index identifying characters when the index is closed. I prefer to have the tabs project from the lower edges of the leaves, but of course the same advantage no would accrue if they projected from the upper edges.

The actual Width of the index sheets 5, disregarding the tab formation, is less throughout the main length of such sheets, than the Width of the leaves of the book. so that the inner edges 7 of the index sheets do not extend to the bound edge of the book, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2.

Each index sheet 5 at the rear portion of the upper and lower or end edges 8 and 9 are of increased length to provide what will be termed inner end extensions 10. These extensions are projected in the direction of the width of the sheet to a point beyond the relatively inner edge 7 of the main length of the sheet, and are terminally formed to provide a hook 11.

The index sheets are bound together in superimposed relation through the hook portions 11. suitable openings in these hook portions being engaged by an interiorlythreaded nipple 12, headed at 13 to engage the outermost sheet. and a threaded stud 14 passed through the open ngs in the hook portions and engaging the nipple. The stud is headed at 15 to bear on this adjacent outermost sheet, and when the connections are applied. the index sheets are connected in bound relation in a manner to permit their ready separation. The upper set of hooks 11 is much longer than the lower set so that a directory which is of a length greater than the distance between the terminals of the two sets of hooks will be held in proper relation to the index by the hooks. In order to stabilize the longer set of hooks 11 I provide a thin metallic fin .11 which is perforated at 11". the hook itself being; similarly perforated, so that when the index is in place in the directory. one of the threaded studs .14 may he passed through the said perforation. and the fin thrust into the back edge of the book, a shown. The lower set of hooks do not of course require an stabilizing.

In applying the index to the book, one binding connection. of the index sheets is removed, that is. the stud 14-. and nipple 12, permitting the index sheets to readily pivot on the remaining binding connection, the latter being slightly loosened tor the purpose. The book is opened to the proper place for the first index sheet and such sheet is placed in the book proper on the leaves thereof. The leaves of the book together with the placed. index sheet are then turned to the place for the second index sheet. and the latter is moved into position. This is continued until all index sheets have been applied, when the index sheets may be straightened with relation to the leaves of the book, so that the hook portion 11 ot' the end of the sheets remainin connected during positioning of the index,

rest in rear of and against the outer survtace of the bound edge 1 of the book. As the index sheets are properly adjusted relative to each other and to the leaves of the book, the previously separated hool; portions 11 thereof will be brought into alignment, whereupon the binding nipple 12 and stud 1-l may be applied, and both binding connections tightened. The hook portions last assembled will rest in rear of the bound edge 41 of the book, and the index will be held against separation from the book and in place for all usual index purposes.

Of course, the distance between the proximate edges of the respective hook terminals of the index is less than the length of the bound edge 4t of the book, and the hook portions, being made up of a series of superimposed index-sheet extensions, are of appreciable thickness, and thus act to secure the index in place entirely without positive, direct or indirect, connection with the book.

The index may be readily separatiul from the book at any time desired, as for example when to be used with a new or later directory, in an obvious manner.

It is preferred that the index sl'ieets 5 be of substantial. material to permit their continued reuse, and if preferred the index sheets may be made of substantially greater thickness than the leaves of the book, to thus act as aids in turning the leaves of the book through the reinforce eiiiect oi": the index sheets. and also to and through their weight and relative rigidity in holding the leaves of the book flat and smooth.

It is to be particularly noted that the use of the index leaves does not increase the thickness of the book at the bound edge to the slightest extent. Hence there is no strain on the binding, and the u e of the index has no stretching or breaking effect on the hook in any way.

Claims:

1. An index made up of sheets having end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets proper, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks to engage the rear edge of the book with which the index cooperates.

2. An index made up of sheets haying end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets proper, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks to engage the rear edge of the book with which the index cooperates, and means for connecting the sheets at the hook portions.

3. An index made up of sheets having end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets proper, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks to engage the rear edge 01": the book with which the index cooperates, said hooks being arranged beyond the adjacent side edges of the sheets proper.

An index, comprising sheets adapted to be inserted between the leaves of a bound book, and means formed on the sheets to engage the outside of the bound edge of the book to hold the sheets in the book.

5. In an index, the combination of a set or supplemental sheets insert-able between the fixed leaves of a bound book, means to prevent displacement of the supplemental leaves, said means including hooks upon the supplemental leaves to engage over the bound edge of the book.

(i. In an index, the combination of a set of supplemental sheets insertable between the fixed leaves of a bound book, means to prevent displacement of the supplemental leaves, said means including hooks upon the supplemental leaves adapted to hook over the back of the book, and means for joining the extremities of the hooks firmly together.

7 An index made up of separable sheets having edge extensions terminating in hook portions to engage over the bound edge of the book with which the index cooperates, and means extending through the hook portions for connecting the sheets.

8. An index made up of separable sheets having edge extensions terminating in hook portions to engage over the bound edge of the book with which the index cooperates, and means extending through the hook portions for connecting the sheets, said means serving as a pivotal support for the sheets when such sheets are free to move.

9. An index made up of sheets having end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets propel, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks to engage the back of the book with which the index cooperates, said hooks being of relatively different lengths to cooperate with books having a length variation within the range of the hook of greatest length.

10. An index made up of sheets having end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets proper, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks of relatively different lengths to cooperate with the bound edge of the book with which the index is associated, index tabs upon an end edge of the res ective sheets.

11. .n index made up of sheets having end extensions beyond the normal area of the sheets proper, the terminals of the extensions forming hooks of relatively different lengths to cooperate with the bound edge of the book with which the index is associated, index tabs upon the lower end edge of each of the sheets.

12. An index made up of sheets having a set of hook-like extensions formed on one of the corners and another set of hook-like extensions formed upon the opposite corner of the sheets, one set of the extensions being of greater length than the other, said hook-. like extensions being adapted to engage over the bound edge of the book with which the index cooperates.

13. Index sheets, hooks of relatively ditferent lengths whereby the sheets may embrace books of various lengths and forming part of the sheets, index tabs on that edgeof each of said sheets which is at right angles to its rear edge, whereby the tabs are at all times visible when the index sheets are in place in a book without regard to the width of the book.

14. Index sheets, means formed on the sheets which embrace books of various lengths, said sheets being provided with index tabs on the edges at right angles to their rear edges.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRED. P. GORIN. 

